Extendable sign exhibitor



May 22, 1956 Filed OCC. 23, 1951 G. E. SWEETNAM EXTENDABLE SIGN EXHIBITOR 5 Sheets-Sheet l nifl INVENTOR G. ISM/@6177211771 [3W/amm, zw, M

ATTOR NE Y 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed OCT.. 25, 1951 Fie. 7.

ATTORNEY May 22, 1956 G. E. SWEETNAM 2,746,188

EXTENDABLE SIGN EXHIBITOR Filed Oct. 23, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR G. E. Swlzczm ATTORNEY United States Patent() EXTENDABLE ySIGNl EXHIBITOR George E. Sweetnam, Chicago, Ill.

Application October 23, 1951,'Serial'No. 252,785

l4 Claims. (CIAO-139) The following specication relates to an improved extendable sign exhibitor of valuein advertising where it is desired to modify the optical impression by variation in size or position of the indicia.

The eye is attracted and the attention of the observer increased by a change in the appearance of a sign whether by movement of the sign or in a change in the proportions of the component lettering.

In order to give the desired leect it is necessary to modify the sign in only one dimension. This invention is directed to improved means for accomplishing aresult of this character.

' One object of the invention is to give the sign exhibitor an illusion of action. The impression desired indicates the idea of motion, specifically, such'motion as can be associated with the thought of growth, increase, orrenlargement.

One'object of this invention is to produce an elongation of the sign in one direction byextending'one or more moveable portions ofthe sign by mechanical means capable of repeating the change in appearance at periodic intervals.

A further object of the invention is to provide `a sign having a xed portion and a second-portion-or panel moved relatively to the fixed portion by mechanical means, which latter in itself is a novel feature.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sign having panels which slide in opposite directions simultaneously in timed frequency.

VA- still further object of the invention is'to provide a,

motor driven, movable element for impartingrnovement `to two'panelfelements simultaneously in oppositet'directions.

:For the purpose of illustrating .theinvention Lhave illustrated the .preferred form on the accompanyingdrawings in which YFig. 1 is a front elevation of the novelsign 4exhibitor ini contracted position;

Fig. Z'is a similar view of the sign having portions extended vertically;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the sign on .an enlarged scale and in extended position;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the exhibitor partly in section;

Fig. 5 is .a'vertical section on the line15-5 of Fig. 4;

.Fig 6 is a side elevation of the motor and eccentric drive taken on the line 6 6 of Fig.^5;

Fig. l7 is a rearelevation of amodiiied form;

`Fig. 8 is a Vvertical section onthe line 8 8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 isa rear elevation of a further modification and Fig. l0 is avertical section .onzthe line 10-10 of Fig. 9.

Briey 'described,'the invention consists in` a "device which is actuated by a motor and given a motion for creating an illusion of action, elongation or the like, to printed, painted or hand lettered words, objects, scenes or human figures. This result is accomplished by the use of light weight panels made of suitable paper, card- 2,746,188 Patented May 22, 1956 l.uoard,rnetal, wood or `plastic sheets. These-panelsare set in a framework, with Yone panel remaining in a'xed position. Oneor more panels aref set in motionby'mechanical means. "This motion shows what appears-'to be a stationaryfobject, letter or the like, to be 'elongated or stretched to a'diterent size, shape or degree of visibility. It is also apparent that suitable control'havingelongation or stretching motion can be givenV to one or more 'letters of a word, while the remaining letters are unview, or the size or shape of one or more objectscan be visibly changed While the remainder of the picture is unchanging.

T he invention is of, particular advantage when applied to advertising material such as Window displays,'counter cards, signs and outdoor billboards, printed bulletins and spectaculars.

As illustrating the preferred form or embodiment of my'invention I have-shown it to consist in a housing 1,

'of'metaL wood, fibreboard or thelike` This housing has a frontopening 2, 'through which the signis displayed. A frame 3 is suitably supported withinlthe housing.

The frame `3alsohas a front lwindow in registrywith lthe opening 2 in the housing 1.

The frame 3 has-side flanges 5 which arebent to the rear land used for reinforcement of the frame and for the support of the parts within the frame.

Thus'the side flanges 5 are lslotted as at '6 to receive the side tongue'7 of a fixed panel 8. This panel is spaced from the front surface of the frame r3 to providefor movementA of one or more movable panels, las shown in Fig. 5. The fixed panel '8is cut -away at-the top and bottom as indicated at V9 and 10. This-'provides freedom for the movement of the'movable panels.

A horizontal -an`d laterally extending track 11 is yattached by any suitable means to the rear of the "fixed panel 8. This track carries a -slide `12-iwhich moves horizontallyfromone 'sidef v-theframe 3 to the other.

"The slidehas one/or more pivots13 by which itfsup- -ports the vmovablepanels The upper movable panel 14 slides-verticallyi-bhind *the frame 3, infront of the 'xed panel 8 and vbetween the extended portions of the latter which"v for-m the opening 9.

Toy accomplish this Vresult the-panel 14 is preferably 'provided vw'thpivots 515, 15. liTwoparallel links116,16 are mounted on pivots-1S, '15 and" have theirflowerends `pivotally connected'to-a pivot'13 on'the slide'12.

1 to r 5 inclusive, the movable panel 14is thus hield-in `:fixed horizontal position yorI parallelism, regardless ofthe vertical 'movement which it may be given by the travel' of the slide-12 from side toside.

A lowerl movable'panel '17 is likewise carried behind *thev frame "3, in yfront' ofthe 'ixed' pan'el-` 81=fand lbetween thepor'tions ofv thelatter forming lthe cut-out 10. Two

pivot rpins 118,18- are provided `along theV lower ledgefgof the'rnovablepanel17A-and are connectedby'parallel links 19,19 to theipivot panel-@13 on the.slide"12.

"Thei -lowerj panel "17'--is therefore caused to'Y reciprocate vertically simultaneously withlrthe vzupper' panel 14. Hrlhis the word Save appears to be printed partly on the fixed l panel and partly on the two movable panels. The lettering is constricted vertically by the latter panels r brought inwardly of the frame.

However, as shown in Fig. 2, the panels which move vertically in opposite directions, separate to disclose a greater area of the iixed panel 8. As the latter is lettered appropriately to the word, the portions on the movable panels are connected by extended portions of the letters. Thus the optical impression is that of enlargement, increase, or similar eiect.

It will readily be appreciated that other verbs of action, such as Go and similar insignia may be used to indicate a sign which will attract attention and impart an advertising idea.

In like manner, the change may be imparted to a picture, designor the like, so that the optical impression is varied for the desired purpose.

In Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive, I have shown the use of a rotary electric motor and means for converting its rotary motion into the reciprocating movement of the slide 'f Two supporting bars 20, have terminal lugs 21, 21 which are seated in appropriate slots in the side flanges 5. These bars form a reinforcement for the frame and at the same time a support for the electric motor. For the latter purpose the bars are connected by a vertical post 22. This post carries an electric motor 23, as shown more clearly in Fig. 5. A ywheel 24 is mounted on the end of the rotary shaft of the motor. This ywheel has a pair of aligned spring clips 25 mounted diametrically on its outer face.

A crank disc 26 is provided with corresponding aligned slots 27, 27. These slots receive the spring clips 25, 25 when the crank disc 26 is removably mounted on the flywheel 24. The crank disk 26 carries a crank pin 28, as shown in Fig. 6.

There is a connecting rod 29 which runs from the crank pin 28 to one end of the slide 12 where it is pivotally carried by a pin 13.

When the small electric motor Ais running, the movement of the crank 28 and connecting rod 29 causes the slide 12 to reciprocate horizontally. In this manner, the two movable panels 14 and 17 move in opposite directions to produce the changeable impression above described.

Another method of causing the simultaneous reciprocation of the movable panels 14 and 17 is shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Here, the iixed panel 8 is mounted as above described. However, this panel has two vertically aligned slots 31, 31.

These slots permit lugs 32, 33 mounted on the back of each panel 14 and 17 respectively, to project back of the xed panel.

The bars 20, 20 have a post 34 for supporting the motor 23. This motor has its shaft parallel to the panels. The iiywheel 24 therefore rotates in a plane perpendicular to the panel. The same is true of the crank disk 26.

The bars 20, 20 have lugs 35, 35 mounted in front v opposite the lugs 31, 31. These lugs 35, 35 form pivot pins for bell crank levers 36, 37. The outer arms of the levers 36, 37 are pivoted to the lugs 32 and 33 respectively. The inner arms of the levers 36, 37 are slotted to receive a crank pin 38 on the crank disk 26.

This modification is of value where the movable panels are light and can be guided in vertical direction without special means for preventing their lateral dislocation.

Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate a further modification in which the slide 12 is reciprocated by the connecting rod 29 from an oscillating motor. As shown, the lower bar 20 carries an oscillating pneumatic motor 39. This has a crank 40 which is pivotally connected to the connecting rod 29. As the crank 40 oscillates from side to side, the slide 12 is also caused to reciprocate. This gives the same change to the position of the panels as above described.

By the use of the several means described above in detail, the invention is advantageously used to display signs, slogans, designs and even human figures in an animated fashion indicative of growth, extension or enlargement. Thus it may be used as advertisement to attract the eye of the observer and give an impression of desired change or result.

The moving panel or panels may be ornamented or decorated to cooperate with the xed sign and dominata the latter.

The device is cheap to manufacture, simple to as4 semble, and rugged in use.

While the preferred form of the invention has been illustrated and described by way of example, it is not intended as a limitation to the scope of the invention other than as defined by the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. An extendable sign exhibitor comprising a housing having a front opening, a xed panel mounted in parallel spaced relation behind the front opening, a vertically movable panel in front of the xed panel, a horizontal laterally extending track carried by the fixed panel, a slide in the track, a pair of parallel links pivotally connecting the movable panel and the slide, a rotary motor mounted on the housing, a crank on the motor and a connecting rod from the crank to the slide.

2. An extendable sign exhibitor comprising a housing having a front opening, a iixed panel mounted in parallel spaced relation behind the front opening, a pair of vertically movable panels in front of the fixed panel, a horizontal laterally extending track carried by the iixed panel, a slide in the track, a pair of parallel links pivotally connecting each panel and the slide, a rotary motor mounted on the housing, a crank on the motor and a connecting rod from the crank to the slide.

3. An extendable sign exhibitor comprising a housing having a front opening, a fixed panel mounted in parallel spaced relation behind the front opening, a pair of vertically movable panels in front of the xed panel, a horizontal laterally extending track carried by the iixed panel, a slide in the track, two spaced pivots on the slide, a pair of parallel links piv`oted to each movable panel, one link of each pair being attached to each of the slide pivots, a rotary motor mounted on the housing, a crank on the motor and a connecting rod from the crank to the slide.

4. An extendable sign exhibitor comprising a housing having a front opening, a fixed panel mounted in parallel spaced relation behind the front opening, a vertically movable panel in front of the fixed panel, a rotary motor mounted on the housing, a iiy wheel on the rotary shaft of the motor, a crank disk removably attached to the ily wheel and linkage connecting the crank disk with the movable panel.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 639,679 Kaufmann Dec. 19, 1899 888,082 Grimson May 19, 1908 1,152,780 Black Sept. 7, 1915 2,688,813 Hart Sept. 14, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 265,545 Germany Oct. 10, 1913 

